Transcript Highlights:

• Compare that to a constitutional amendment, which only requires first pass legislature and then go to
• By adding the school board in, it's effectively more difficult than a constitutional amendment.
• Compare that to a constitutional amendment, which only requires first pass legislature and then go to
• By adding the school board in, it's effectively more difficult than a constitutional amendment.
• By adding the school board in, it's effectively more difficult than a constitutional amendment.

Keywords: 1189, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I haven't really had a chance to work on any amendments.
• I haven't really had a chance to work on any amendments.
• Because it was based on the dormant clause of the Constitution.
• Constitution, you know, realistically, and looking really at the dormant clause of the Constitution on
• Chairman, what got amended in is, you know, Also, Mr.

Bills: HCR77, HB81, HB512, HB663, HB717, HB1194

Keywords: crawfish, agricultural labor, H-2B program, H-2A program, labor shortage, temporary workers, Louisiana economy, HCR77, crawfish industry, H-2B visa, seasonal labor, agriculture, immigration, arborist, property disputes, tree trimming, neighborhood, landowner rights, Delta Economic Research and Sustainability District, board of commissioners

Transcript Highlights:

• Maybe it's the same—to Article 5, Section 5, part of the Constitution, where the governor, the next governor
• Absent that, Article 5, Section 5 of the Constitution gives that authority to the governor.
• Article 5, Section 5 of the Constitution gives that authority to the governor. Okay.
• and then we never had the opportunity, which was that in this same constitutional amendment, under current
• Right now, in the amended bill, amended resolution, it says you cannot change your party affiliation

Bills: SB238, HJR1, SM21, SM22

Keywords: Governor's Residence, management committee, government administration, New Mexico, advisory, commission, general services, nominating committees, boards of regents, student representation, political party registration, New Mexico constitution, overdose prevention centers, harm reduction, drug overdose, opioid crisis, substance use disorder, public health, addiction treatment, naloxone

Transcript Highlights:

• ,<00:40:36.560> and orders, ignores the Constitution, and orders, ignores the Constitution
• I will not stand silent while families are ripped apart, while the Constitution is trampled.
• While the Constitution is trampled, you shouldn't either. I yield back.
• office have eroded constitutional office have eroded constitutional rights,<01:12:42.760> illegally
• This is a constitutional crisis. This is a fact.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, April 30, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• concurrence with proposal of amendment? concurrence with proposal of amendment?
• amendment the bill ought to pass. amendment the bill ought to pass.
• supporting this amendment. supporting this amendment.
• Chile, for example, has already done a constitutional amendment to enshrine neurological rights in their
• constitution.

Keywords: 927, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• The first is possible constitutional changes.
• One example could be constitutional language that limits the number of days of the legislative session
• The first is possible constitutional changes.
• amendment.
• amendment.

Keywords: 908, all

Summary: The Legislative Procedure and Arrangements Committee met with a quorum, approved the previous meeting minutes, and heard an update from Garty Consulting on the interim study of legislative term limits. The consultants outlined their research plan and preliminary themes, including loss of institutional knowledge, shifts in power toward executive agencies and lobbyists, reduced long-term policy capacity, faster leadership turnover, and recruitment/support challenges. They also described possible recommendation categories ranging from constitutional and statutory changes to procedural and cultural adjustments. Committee members asked about how other states repealed term limits, how the public survey would address perceptions of term limits, and how stakeholder focus groups would be selected. The committee also heard a presentation from NCSL on term limits in other states, including examples from Nevada, Montana, and Colorado, with discussion of training programs, staffing changes, annual-session debates, bill limits, and impacts on decorum and leadership continuity. Several members requested follow-up data on part-time versus full-time legislatures, taxpayer costs, and nonpartisan staff devoted to oversight. The committee then considered revisions to the legislature’s workplace harassment policy and related forms. Legislative Council explained changes that clarified the definition of harassment, added captions for readability, extended several deadlines, allowed informal resolution before a review panel is appointed, clarified the role of Legislative Council in intake and documentation, and updated confidentiality/open-records language. Members, especially Senator Hogan, said the revisions better formalize the role of counsel and provide a less intimidating path for resolving complaints. The committee adopted the revised policy and forms by roll call vote. Finally, the committee approved a motion to enter executive session at 1:00 p.m. to review the results of a capital threat assessment and discuss legislator security, citing the applicable open-meetings exemptions. Members were instructed to limit discussion to the stated purpose and not take final action until returning to open session.

Transcript Highlights:

• Today, we will consider how to fix one of the most frustrating features of California's Constitution:
• instead, I received a long answer that included a discussion of three different voter-approved amendments
• to California's Constitution, a mini lecture on the California economy and activity, and a primer on
• One is that it creates a maximum on the constitutional share of the Budget Stabilization Account to 10%
• That is the main change that essentially affects the constitutional deposits into the BSA.

Summary: The Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Accountability and Oversight held a hearing on proposals to reform California’s Budget Stabilization Account, or rainy day fund, ahead of the May Revision. Members and witnesses reviewed how Proposition 2 (2014) changed reserve rules, including mandatory deposits, a 10% cap on the fund, and limits tied to the Governor’s declaration of a budget emergency. LAO staff explained that California’s revenues are highly volatile, that current reserve rules are complicated by interactions with Proposition 98 and the Gann limit, and that under current law reserves would cover only about one-third of funding shortfalls in a benchmark scenario over 50 years. The LAO presented its report recommending a larger reserve target, including raising the cap to 50% by 2055 and pairing that with either broader, more flexible deposit rules or a simpler approach that deposits all excess capital gains. The Department of Finance described the Governor’s proposal to raise the cap from 10% to 20% and exempt BSA deposits from the state appropriations limit, while Assembly Member Valencia presented ACA 1, which would make similar changes and was described as an evolving proposal. Testimony generally supported saving more during boom years, but differed on how much to hardwire into the Constitution versus leave flexible, and on whether to broaden the deposit formulas beyond capital gains. Public witnesses and committee members raised additional issues, including whether reserve reforms should also address debt repayment, the treatment of unemployment insurance fund debt, and whether the Gann limit should be adjusted to better allow reserve growth. Supporters argued that stronger reserves would protect Californians from cuts during downturns and help the state weather volatility and federal funding threats. Some advocates warned that reforms should not come at the expense of current public needs, while taxpayer representatives cautioned against turning the BSA into a pass-through account that weakens constitutional spending limits. The hearing ended without a vote, with the committee chair noting the complexity of the issue and adjourning after public comment.

Transcript Highlights:

• Chair, are you going to be making any amendments to this bill to see?
• You're not willing to make any amendments whatsoever. Senator Gruters, thank you.
• to our Constitution ever sense.
• When everybody here says they want to support the Constitution, then we have to force Congress to do
• for E verify including amendment that requires source of funds to post bond.

Keywords: 999, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• Members, this is the constitutional amendment, so we are here on ballot language. Mr.
• It amends Article 7, Section 21(K) of the Constitution.
• It amends Article 7, Section 21K of the Constitution.
• The constitutional amendment limits the amount of state general funds that may be appropriated in a fiscal
• Members, this is a constitutional amendment.

Bills: HB79, HB437, HB646, HB1089, HB1099, SB173, SB180, SB260, SB424, SB476

Keywords: carbon capture, damages, environmental liability, legal liability, site restoration, expert witness, expert testimony, witness fees, pecuniary interest, conflict of interest, civil procedure, evidence law, Louisiana evidence code, Louisiana civil litigation, expert report, discovery, pretrial disclosure, litigation transparency, settlement, damages award

Summary: The committee first heard Senate Bill 476, which would add clearer warning language for garnishees responding to interrogatories and create a limited procedure for a new trial when a garnishee shows it never held property of, or owed money to, the judgment debtor. After brief questioning about how garnishment works, the bill was reported favorably without objection. The committee then took up Senate Bill 260 on youth athletics, which establishes required injury-mitigation training content for youth sports coaches, including emergency preparedness, concussions, heat injuries, overuse injuries, equipment, heart defects, and sudden cardiac effects. An amendment was adopted to remove language allowing the department to spend donated funds to purchase the courses, and the bill was reported as amended. House Bill 79, which removes the damage threshold for carbon capture release, was also reported favorably after sponsor testimony that carbon capture should be treated like other industries and not receive a special liability cap. Senate Bill 424, clarifying service by mail, delivery, or electronic means by defining “counsel of record” as someone who actually represents a party, was reported favorably as well. Senate Bill 180, a constitutional amendment allowing the surviving spouse of a deceased disabled veteran to make a one-time transfer of an expanded property tax exemption to another qualifying property, received a ballot-language amendment and a 6.8A report, then was reported as amended. The committee spent the most time on House Bill 1089, which creates “care accounts” for future medical damages in delictual actions. The sponsor and supporters said the bill would ensure future medical awards are actually used for medical care, function like a money market/HSA-style account, and potentially reduce costs; opponents raised concerns about the account being owned by the judgment debtor, possible reversion of unused funds to the wrong party, unclear mechanics for payment, and the impact on survivors of trafficking and sexual abuse who may need flexible, non-billing-code-based care. Several members suggested exclusions or clarifying amendments for med-mal, intentional torts, and sexual abuse victims, and the bill was reported favorably on a 6-1 vote after amendment. Finally, House Bill 437 was taken up, which bars expert witnesses from having a pecuniary interest in the outcome of the case. An amendment excluding criminal traffic and juvenile proceedings was adopted, and members discussed that the bill would prohibit contingent-style expert fee arrangements while still allowing cross-examination about an expert’s prior testimony and payment history. The discussion emphasized that the rule would apply to both plaintiffs and defendants.

Transcript Highlights:

• And may they be faithful to our state's constitution and give witness.
• of Public Records Act, amending, repealing, and enacting Section of the NMSA 1978.
• An act relating to children, amending the Delinquency Act to include unlawful possession of cannabis
• Amending, repealing, and enacting sections of the NMSA 1978.
• This resolution proposes an amendment to Article 10, Section 2 of the Constitution of New Mexico to allow

Transcript Highlights:

• that they have their constitutional that they have their constitutional rights<01:26:49.360>
• Chair, just want to make sure everyone got there's an amendment by Senator Ward, amendment number 291
• sure everyone got there's an amendment sure everyone got there's an amendment by<02:01:40.119>
• there a pretty significant amendment there a pretty significant amendment that<02:01:51.040>
• My amendment, S 2025-0315? And I'll speak to it. She moves their amendment 0315-S.

Keywords: 1191, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So do you move the amendments, sir? I move the amendments. Shall the amendments be agreed to?
• This is Amendment 1. This is Amendment 1. Is this number one? This is Amendment 1. Okay. Yes. Mr.
• Speaker, I move the amendment. Shall the Mr. Speaker, I move the amendment.
• The amendment is adopted.
• Amendment 10 is adopted.

Keywords: June 29, 2026 - Special Session 1, 976, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• . >> Do you think you have support for the constitutional amendment that the governor sort of floated
• amendment that the governor sort of floated in the men post festival this weekend?
• amendment that the governor sort of floated in the men post festival this weekend?
• <00:21:12.799> amendment<00:21:13.280> that<00:21:13.520> the constitutional amendment
• that the constitutional amendment that the governor<00:21:14.000> sort<00:21:14.159> of

Keywords: 1187, senate, all

Transcript Highlights:

• So it's as amended, or is that a technical amendment? I don't know. What do you think?
• It's an amendment.
• So it's as amended, or is that a technical amendment? I don't know. What do you think?
• It's an amendment.
• It's an amendment.

Keywords: 910, house, all

Summary: The Committee on Public Safety met on March 21, 2025, and heard several resolutions related to corrections, emergency preparedness, and wildfire risk. Early items included HCR 62/HR 57 on flying the National League of Families POW/MIA flag year-round at the state Capitol, for which no one testified, and HCR 154/HR 49, which would request a comprehensive forensic audit of DCR and DAGS spending tied to planning and building a new jail to replace the Ahu Community Correctional Center. The ACLU strongly supported the audit, arguing that the state has spent millions on jail planning over many years without clear accounting, that a new jail is unnecessary and fiscally irresponsible, and that public-private partnership arrangements could reduce transparency. Committee members questioned the use of the term “forensic,” the age of some cited allegations, and whether the auditor could instead conduct another type of audit; the ACLU said it was open to other audit language and offered to help compile background materials. No vote was taken in the portion provided. The committee also heard HCR 63, asking DCR to provide separate clinical counseling services for correctional staff, with one supporter, and HCR 23, which asks DCR to include circuit and district court facilities in planning the new Ahu Community Correctional Center and to establish a release procedure that avoids releasing detainees into residential communities or public spaces. DCR Director Johnson said the department supported the intent of HCR 23 and had discussed it with the Chief Justice and court administrator, adding that one multi-purpose courtroom could handle both district and circuit proceedings. The chair then moved on without further discussion. A major portion of the meeting focused on HCR 37, which asks HEMA to work with other agencies on outreach and preparedness for kūpuna. Testifiers from the Pearl City Neighborhood Board, AARP Hawaii, and the Hawaii Council of Community Associations supported the measure, citing the vulnerability of older adults and people with disabilities during disasters, lessons from the Lahaina fires, and the need for clear evacuation plans, siren reliability, and better coordination with care homes and condominium associations. Several speakers described local preparedness efforts and concerns about gaps in communication and implementation. The committee also discussed HCR 69/HR 62 on creating a vegetation management working group to reduce wildfire risk; the Division of Consumer Advocacy supported it, with testimony describing dangerous incidents involving vines and bamboo contacting electrical lines and causing sparking and a utility pole fire. The meeting ended with testimony and questions continuing on that topic, and no final committee action was shown in the excerpt.

Transcript Highlights:

• That's the year the voters adopted the Save Our Homes amendment.
• amendments.
• The property appraiser is an independent constitutional officer.
• You have that splitting of statutory and constitutional authority.
• The Department of Revenue. constitutional U.S. Supreme Court has said that.

Summary: The Committee on Finance and Tax met with a quorum present and heard a presentation from the Property Appraisers Association of Florida on ad valorem valuation, exemptions, and the property tax process. Lauren Levy reviewed the legal and historical framework of Florida property taxation, including Save Our Homes, the 10% cap on non-homestead assessments, portability, tangible personal property exemptions, TRIM notices, and the distinction between taxable value and millage rates. He emphasized that property appraisers are independent constitutional officers who assess just value, administer exemptions, and are overseen by the Department of Revenue, with values and exemptions generally determined as of January 1 and subject to challenge through the Value Adjustment Board or circuit court. Mike Twitty described the mass appraisal process in Pinellas County, explaining how property appraisers value large numbers of parcels using the same core approaches as fee appraisals but with statistical testing, field reviews, aerial imagery, and technology. He discussed the importance of budget, staffing, and the January 1 valuation date, and noted that recent hurricanes caused significant damage, increased petitions, and required new procedures to help property owners with value reductions and FEMA-related issues. Paul Polk focused on Department of Revenue oversight, explaining sales ratio studies, uniformity measures such as COD and PRD, time adjustments, sales qualification reviews, and in-depth studies that can lead to corrective action if assessment standards are not met. He also noted that the Department reviews property appraiser budgets to preserve independence from county pressure. Senators asked about the supersized homestead concept, DOR review and rejection standards, value trends, and the impact of storms and new construction on taxable value. Twitty and Polk said value growth has been driven by a mix of new construction, market appreciation, cap resets, and storm-related adjustments, while noting that some counties saw market value decline even as taxable value rose. They also said some property tax relief proposals would be easier to implement than others depending on how local tax bills are structured, especially where law enforcement millage is separately identified. No votes were taken on legislation, and the committee adjourned after the presentation.

Transcript Highlights:

• The other side will have a million amendments.
• ourselves and our own constitutional ourselves and our own constitutional prerogative, prerogative
• There'll be amendment after amendment after amendment.
• <00:18:23.560> I amendments they're going to have. I amendments they're going to have.
• <00:19:56.880> on absolutely not support any amendments on absolutely not support any amendments

Keywords: 1183, house

Transcript Highlights:

• Hey, you say you got a floor amendment? amendment? amendment?
• Chair, I'll offer an<01:21:56.480> amendment. an amendment. an amendment.
• c><01:22:18.480> amendment, amendment.
• And on this amendment, amendment.
• Amendment to Senate Bill amendment.

Keywords: 1136, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• I think it's a constitutional violation to not allow people who choose to represent themselves access
• Senate Bill 1936 amends the...
• Senate Bill 1936 amends the definition of an abuse unit using a weight-based standard.
• It's also just flatly the Constitution of the United States, right?” “Yes, that's right.
• , enumerated by the Constitution, like black-letter law says states...” “...states may not touch.

Summary: The Committee on Criminal Jurisprudence met with a quorum and heard a series of Senate bills, generally receiving sponsor explanations and, in most cases, no public testimony. SB 2595 would create a Class B misdemeanor for harassing, threatening, or intimidating someone while intentionally concealing identity with a mask, with broad affirmative defenses for legitimate mask use; SB 1980 would increase penalties for assaulting peace officers, parole officers, and community supervision officers and add related presumptions and interference protections; and SB 1896 would require magistrates to issue emergency protective orders in certain family violence, sexual assault, stalking, and aggravated cases, with law enforcement required to provide needed information. All three were left pending. The committee also heard SB 955, which increases trafficking of persons from a second-degree to a first-degree felony when the victim was recruited from a correctional facility, and SB 614, which would let the Texas Forensic Science Commission refer dismissed complaints to the Office of Capital and Forensic Writs when they reference a prior FSC report; both were left pending. Members then heard several forensic and criminal procedure bills. SB 1372 would resolve a discovery/access conflict involving the DPS crime lab portal by limiting portal access to defense attorneys rather than defendants directly, prompting questions from members about access for pro se defendants; DPS’s chief crime lab witness testified neutrally. SB 1936 would change the LSD “abuse unit” definition for unmarked/unperforated paper from a square-measurement method to a 10-milligram weight standard, and SB 1937 would require a subject matter expert from the testing lab to participate in pretrial meetings in capital cases involving biological evidence to help identify viable testing and conserve resources. SB 2580 would lower the population threshold for sheriff’s departments to independently use tracking equipment and access certain communications from 3.3 million to 500,000, expanding the authority beyond Harris County; it was described as a public safety and emergency response measure and left pending. The committee also considered SB 2798, which would extend the statute of limitations for certain financial crimes from three years to seven years, with testimony from a Montgomery County assistant district attorney supporting the change because fraud is often discovered late. SB 1099 would increase penalties for felony offenses committed by undocumented or unauthorized aliens, but drew strong opposition from the Texas Civil Rights Project, which argued immigration is a federal matter and that the bill would create difficult and potentially unfair status determinations for local courts; members raised concerns about the lack of an expert-testimony requirement. SB 1278 would create an affirmative defense to prostitution prosecution for trafficking victims compelled by their traffickers to commit the conduct, and testimony from advocates and a member’s personal account emphasized the coercive, traumatic nature of trafficking; members discussed whether the defense should be narrower or framed as mitigation, and the bill was left pending. Finally, SB 127 would extend the statute of limitations for failure to report or conceal child abuse, with members discussing mandatory reporting duties and the need to allow more time for delayed discovery of cover-ups; it too was left pending before the committee adjourned.

Transcript Highlights:

• <00:34:26.879> of American people and the Constitution of American people and the Constitution
• He did this although this amendment.
• Congress, the House adopted my amendment Congress, the House adopted my amendment to<04:26:02.640
• /c><04:27:22.319> and security, constitutional freedoms, and security, constitutional freedoms
• The questions on the as amended.

Keywords: U.S. House of Representatives Floor Proceedings on Wednesday, May 7, 2025, 1012, house, all

Transcript Highlights:

• We accept the committee amendments, which I think add further clarity and protections.
• We accept the committee amendments, which I think add further clarity and protections.
• What constitutes a social need?
• The motion is due pass as amended to the Appropriations Committee. Lowenthal, aye. Dixon, no.
• committed to accepting those amendments.

Summary: The Assembly Privacy and Consumer Protection Committee heard several bills focused on AI, immigration-related health care protections, digital financial assets, and online cannabis/hemp sales. SB 69 by Senator McNerney would create an AI-focused team within the Department of Justice to build enforcement expertise on civil rights, public safety, and legal issues tied to AI. SB 81 by Senator Arreguín would codify hospital and health facility policies limiting disclosure of patient immigration status and restricting immigration enforcement access without a judicial warrant. SB 97 by Senator Grayson would update and clarify California’s digital financial assets licensing law. SB 243 by Senator Padilla would impose guardrails on AI companion chatbots, including disclosures, anti-addictive design limits, self-harm protocols, and a private right of action. SB 378 by Senator Wiener would allow civil penalties against online marketplaces that advertise illicit intoxicating hemp and unlicensed cannabis products. Testimony on SB 69 emphasized that California needs in-house AI enforcement expertise at the DOJ; supporters said AG offices generally lack tech-policy specialists, while members asked about the Attorney General’s role and noted the office was neutral. SB 81 drew broad support from nurses, immigrant advocates, hospitals, labor, and community groups, who argued that hospitals should remain safe places for care regardless of immigration status; there was no opposition. SB 97 was described as a technical cleanup bill with stakeholder consensus, and the main public comment focused on ensuring blockchain-based nonfinancial products are not unintentionally swept into the law. SB 243 generated the most debate. Supporters, including the mother of a Florida teen who died by suicide after interacting with a chatbot, urged stronger protections for minors and vulnerable users. Opponents argued the bill’s definitions were too broad and could capture general-purpose AI systems, and raised concerns about privacy, cost, and a private right of action. Committee members largely supported the bill’s intent and discussed the need for guardrails without stifling innovation. SB 378 was supported by cannabis workers, retailers, and local government representatives who said online sales of untested intoxicating hemp and illegal cannabis are harming public health and the legal market; opponents from hemp and tech groups argued the bill could sweep in lawful hemp businesses and that definitions need refinement. The committee ultimately passed SB 69, SB 81, SB 97, SB 243, and SB 378, with SB 81 and SB 243 amended, and all five bills were sent onward to their next committees.